Condenser.



No. 727,391. PATEISTED MAY 5, 1903. w. T. LEMAN.

CONDENSER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1902.

I0 MODEL.

Patented May 5, 1903.

UNlTE STATES PATENT GEE CE.

WILLIAMT. LEMAN, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY.

CONDENSER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 727,391, dated May 5,1903.

Application filed June 24,1902. Serial No. 113,012. (No model.) I i Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM T. LEMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bayonne, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Condensers, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

The invention relates to improvements in condensers more especiallydesigned for use in connection with the distillation of petrolenm-oils.For this purpose it is of great importance that condensers should be soconstructed as not to place any back pressure upon the still, and it isof equal importance that none of thecondensable products should escapefrom the condenser in gaseous form and that the products of condensationshould be delivered from the condenser at or near the initialtemperature of the cooling medium.

It is therefore the object of the present invention 'to obtain aconstruction which will fulfil all of the conditions above mentioned,thus preventing loss of valuable products and economizing in fuelnecessary-for-operating the still and improving the quality of theproducts of condensation.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of a condenser inwhich the cooling medium is passed through the lines while the vapors tobe condensed are passed around the latter; further, in the constructionand arrangement of baflie-plates adapted to direct the vaporstransversely of said tubes and to frequently change the direction, so asto insure complete condensation.

The invention further consists in the peculiar construction andcombination of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l'is a vertical central section through thecondenser. Fig. 2is a cross-section thereof on line 00 m. Fig. 3 is asimilar cross-section on line y 12 Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic View similarto Fig. 1, showing baffle-plates having apertures therein which areprogressively diminished in size.

A is a cylindrical casing arranged upon a vertical axis and mounted insuitable supports, such as the base B. This casing is divided byhorizontal partitions O and D into the compartments, comprising a lowercompartment D, an intermediate compartment, and an upper compartment E.These compartments 1) and Eare connected with each other by flues Fpassing through the intermediate compartmentand arranged in closeproximity to each other.

G is a water-inlet connection with the base of the compartment D.

H is an outlet connection at the upper endof the compartment E, and Iand J are connections, respectively, with the upper and lower ends ofthe intermediate compartment, the former being an inlet for the vaporsand the latter an outlet for the condensed product.

In order that the greatest efficiency be obtained' from thecondensing-surface, it is desirable that the vapors be directed againstthe side of the fines. This is accomplished by arranging a series ofhorizontal partitions or baffle-plates K and K, which divide theintermediate compartment into a series of chambers, such as a, b, c, andd. These chambers communicate with each other alternately at the centerand the periphery and in each is arranged aseries of verticalbaffle-plates, which compel the gases to passalternately from one sideto the other. As shown in Fig.2, the compartment 0, is divided by thecircular baffle-plates e, f, and g,which are arranged concentricallywithin the casing. and extend be tween the horizontal baffle-plateKandthe partition C. The baffle-plate e is slotted upon the side oppositethat in which the vapor-conduit I enters, so that the vapors are firstcompelled to travel oppositely around the casing between the outershelland the baffle-plate 6. They will then pass through the slot insaid battleplate and will pass backward again between the plates 6 andf, the latter being slotted upon the opposite side to admitthevaporsinto the space between theplate fraud the plate g. It will thus beunderstood that in passing back and forth around these'baflieplates thevapors are continually directed against the vertically-extending fiueswhich are in their path. When the center is reached, the vapors passdownward through the apertures h in the plate K and are then directedback and forth by another set of vertical baffle-plates similar inconstruction until the outer wall of the casing is again reached. Herethe vapors will descend'through the marginal opening I through the plateK, and the operation will be continued until finally the outlet J isreached.

It will be noted that the Water or other cooling medium employed passesupward through the fiues F, while the heated vapors first come incontact with said fines at the upper end thereof and gradually passdownward. The result will be that the vapors directly from the stillwill come in contact with that portion of the fiues which contains waterpartially heated from contact with the vapors lower down in thecondenser. This will serve to condense the more easily-condensablevapors, while the lighter products will pass farther downward, beingconstantly brought in contact with colder condensing-surfaces. As aresult practically all condensable products are prevented from escaping.

While the arrangement of baffie-plates de scribed is such as toconstantly redirect the vapors against the condensing-surface, theprogress of said vapors is not impeded, as at all points ample area isprovided. Moreover, the condensed products will run down the fines andthe baffie-plates and will not get in the way of the vapor, so as toimpede its progress. The result is that not only is back pressure uponthe still prevented, but experience has demonstrated that at times thepressure is actually reduced below atmospheric pressure, for the reasonthat the vapors are condensed more rapidly than they are furnished bythe still. It is well understood that wherever back pressure is placedupon the still the amount of fuel is proportionatelyincreased, and thisis prevented by the construction described. Furthermore, the holding ofthe vapors in the still by back pressure thereon injures the color ofthe products of condensation and makes them more difficult to refine.

The apertures in the baffie-plates preferably progressively diminish insize from top to bottom correspondingly to the diminution of column ofvapor passing therethrough.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A condenser comprising a casinghaving a plurality of fines extending vertically therethrough,IIIBRDSIOI passing a cooling agent upward through said fines, means foradmitting the vapor into the upper end of said casing around said finesand baffie-plates for directing the vapor back and forth in parallelsubstantially concentric segmental courses across the path of said flueand progressively downward.

2. A condenser comprising a casing having a plurality of fiues extendingtherethrough, means for passing a cooling agent through said fiues,means for admitting vapor into said casing at one side thereof, and anannular baffle-plate arranged between the fines within said casingadapted to compel the vapors to pass around parallel to the outer wallthereof across the path of the outer fines, said baffie-plate beingapertured on the opposite side thereof to admit the vapors into thespace within the same and into contact with the inner fines.

3. A condenser comprising a casing having a plurality of fiues extendingtherethrough, means for passing a cooling agent through said fines, abaffieplate extending trans- Versely across Within said casing aroundsaid fines and centrally apertu red, annular baffieplates arrangedbetween the fines upon opposite sides of said transverse plate andapertured on one side, said baffle-plate being adapted to direct thevapors across the path of said fines in a circuitous course andalternately toward the center and periphery of said casing.

4. A condenser comprising a casing having a plurality of fiues extendingvertically therethrough, means for passing a cooling agent upwardthrough said fines, means for admitting vapor into said casing at theupper end thereof and a series of horizontal and annular baffie-platesarranged within said casing across and between, said fines, and adaptedto direct the vapor in a circuitous course across the path of said finesalternately toward the center and the periphery of said casing andprogressively downward.

5. A condenser com prising a casing having a plurality of lines passingtherethrough, means for passing a cooling agent through said fines,means for admitting vapor into said casing at one end thereof and aseries of baffle-plates for directing the vapors back and forth acrossthe path of said fines, said plates having apertures alternatelyatopposite sides for the passage of the vapor, said apertures beingprogressively reduced in area to correspond to the diminution in volumeof vapor.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM T. LEMAN. Witnesses:

H. D. HAVEN, E. Z. KLINGLER.

